Greenhouse bench



` Oct. l, 1935. v W25; DE; L HORBE 2,015,924 I GREENHOUSE BENCH Filed Aug. 2, 1953 wmwEeL/wrbe Patented Oct. 1,P 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,015,924 Y GREENHOUSE BENCH William E. De Lhorbe, Oregon, Ill. Application August 2, 1933, Serial No. 683,329

z claims. (o1. 471s) i `This invention relates to greenhouse benches, and the primary object of the invention is to provide composite greenhouse benches made in sections, the sections being made from composite materiaL such as concrete, and provided with weep holes to permit the proper drainage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a greenhouse bench whereby the plants are grown directly on the bench which is provided with sloping side walls formed integral with the base.

A further object is to provide a greenhouse bench made in a plurality or sections having cornplementary means whereby each section is interlocked with an adjacent section.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of greenhouse benches which are. strong and durable in construction; which will not deteriorate readily; which are provided with proper drainage facilities; which are capable of being added onto by the addition of additional sections; which have a supporting base adapted to carry the heating pipes, and which are provided with proper draining means.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

'I'he accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective View of an improved greenhouse bench and embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail transverse section Vshowing a greenhouse bench carried by a modified form`of supporting structure.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing still another modification. l

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing interlocking sections.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the sections provided with complementary flanges and recesses. l

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing the end members arranged in position.

The particular greenhouse construction herein shown for the purpose of illustration comprises a plurality of sections I0 each of which is provided with a base I I and oppositely disposed side walls I2 and I3. The sections I0 are made from composite material, such as concrete, and the base II and the side walls I2 and I3 are preferably formed integral. The side walls I2 and I3 may be inclined outwardly as clearly shown in the various gures. drical alined weep holes I4 are provided lat the A plurality of semi-cylin-` sides or edges I5 of each section so that when a pair of sections are arranged adjacent to each other and in juxtaposition, cylindrical weep holes I6 are formed.

The sections Ill are arranged in adjacent posi- 5 tion and are supported by longitudinal supports or beams I'I which rest upon and are supported by pedestals lor piers I8. The supports or beams I1 are spaced apart as indicated at I9, Fig. 1, to provide an expansion joint between the sections 10 of the column to permit for longitudinal expansion and contraction of the device. The supports I'I and the pedestals or piers I8 may also be made of composite material, such as concrete.

The tops 20 of the pedestals or piers I8 are 15 adapted to support a plurality of heating pipes` 2| which are arranged below the bottom 22 of the sections when they are arranged to form a bench structure.

End members, such as shown in Fig. 6 may be 20 clamped or otherwise xed in position to the ends of the end sections, if desired.

In Fig. 2 the sections I0 are shown supported on "longitudinal I-beams 23 which in turn are supported on transverse I-beams 24, suitable 25 pedestals 25 being provided to raise the bottoms of the transverse I-b-eams 24 a suicient distance above the iioor 26. The steam pipes 2| are adapted to be supported by the upper surface 21 of the transverse I-beams. 30

The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 shows the longitudinal I-beams 23 supported on supporting means 2l. 'I'he supporting means 2l includes transverse pipes 28 which support the heating pipes 2| and the vertical pipes and collars 29 35 and 3U respectively.

To prevent accidental displacement of one section relative to another section, a tongue 3l may be formed on one end of the section and a recess 32 formed on the other end of the section. The 40 tongue of one section will engage the recess 32 of an adjacent section as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Other means for preventing accidental transverse displacement of one section relative to another section is shown in Fig. 5. In this latter view the 45 ends of each section are provided with an S-shaped formation providing a tongue 4l) and a recess 4I, the tongue 40 being receivable in the groove or recess 4I of the adjacent section, while the tongue 4B will be received in the recess 4I of 50 the adjacent section. The tongue and recess construction of one section has complementary engagement with the recess and tongue of the adjacent section and being constructed as shown, permits the tongue and recess of a section, re-

gardless of which side of the complementary section, to be complementarily received by the similar construction of the adjacent section.

The invention provides a bench made of composite material having the proper drainage facilities so that plants may be propagated and grown directly thereon thereby eliminating the usual wooden construction which is expensive and which rapidly deteriorates. The present invention also permits benches to be made of various sizes as sections may be removed or added as the necessity arises. The greenhouse bench construction herein disclosed can be readily and quickly installed and can be very economically manufactured.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacricing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall withinthe scope of the following claims.

Therinvention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A greenhouse bench construction comprising a plurality of sections made of composite material and arranged in adjacent position, said sections extending across the entire width of the bench and having integral outwardly inclined ends which comprise the sides of the bench when the sections are arranged in adjacent longitudinal position, said sections each being provided with weep holes on their side edges Which aline with the weep holes of adjacent sections to provide for extending across the entire width of the bench and having integral slanting ends which comprise the sides of the bench when the sections are arranged in .adjacent longitudinal position, and complementary interlocking means formed on v the' sides of each of said sections and engaging each other to prevent accidental displacement of onesection relative to an adjacent section and to 20 positively position said sections, said sections each being provided With weep holes on their side edges Which aline with the weep holes in adjacent sections to provide for drainage for the bench, and

transverse end members for the ends of the bench. 25

WILLIAM E. DE LHORBE. 

